is engine braking bad for your motor?

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that kind of riding will get you killed, not even close - fail

 

"Some people" As in Some People=MotoGP riders?

Thanks for one of the worst fucking responses to a question on VFRW in a long time. Even deepdish couldn't match this one folks.

BZ

 

Typically, all race bikes and most production supersport bikes use back torque limiting clutches, or slipper clutches. The use of these devices enables very aggressive backshifting without locking the rear wheel. "Backing" a machine into a corner with machines from this genre involves the use of the brake system.

A VFR does not have such a back torque limiting device, so good riding technique and proper use of the clutch and the brakes are the only things that will keep the wheel from locking during aggressive riding. Any time you back off the throttle at speed and begin to employ the brakes, engine braking is taking place, unless you have the unrecommended habit of pulling in the clutch and freewheeling when braking.

So, in summary... engine braking will not damage your engine when proper riding technique is implemented.

 

No it is not. JIM

 

Improper engine braking has ill effects on several riding aspects and has the potential to cause more harm to you than your motor!

For example... Dodge Caravans...

Dodge has created an interesting vehicle, that when certain conditions are met, it transforms into a truly awesome racing machine. The conditions always seem to be the following,

Every seat is occupied by a member of the pilots family or friends of other occupants within the vehicle.
The pilot is usually male and middle aged but also in some instances, can be female as well.
The more traffic the more agressive this race car becomes.

A motorcycle, most often but not limited to one with a sporty appearance within there path of travel is taken as a direct challenge and almost an insult to them!

After getting wound up by watching the NASCAR race, they realize they are late for Timmy's soccer game! They hop into their vehicle and see the green flag drop the second they leave their driveway!

While on the highway at an easy 100mph they quickly fly over from the passing lane directly on to the exit ramp you are on. They are more concerned and have their main focus on the green light over the safety and well being of any one of us on two wheels all because they need to get to Timmy's soccer game. If they are fixated on that light it might be too late before taking any notice you are engine braking slowing you down much faster than they would expect! hopefully things do not get messy and they will notice you slowing down and will get on the brakes which have the stopping power of a typical F1 car and will avoid any contact with you.

Seriously though it should not need to be said but if someone is behind you, tap the front brake lever giving them a few flashes until you see they are adjusting to match your speed and give you decent room.

I like to accelerate and decelerate as smoothly as possible. If I have no traffic behind me when exiting a highway on your typical 1/8th mile long exit ramp at a slight downgrade, I usually transition from the engines deceleration to brake from down shifts to start to ease on the brakes somewhere in the 3rd gear range around 3500 rpm and continue to use the front/rear brakes over engine braking until I reach the bottom of 2nd gear and close the clutch and brake until I come to a complete stop, shifting into first only an instance before the complete stop.

Coming down a twisty mountain road I usually stay in a lower gear promoting engine braking. I dont think the brake system of these bikes would heat up enough to fade like a vehicles braking system would but I would rather not find out coming up on a very tight 180 degree turn after 4 miles of riding the brakes.

 

I always engine brake on my bike and 80% of the time in my vehicle.

 

Keith Code says the brakes are for braking and the engine is going. I think it was more for keeping the suspension stable through curves. Rev matching a downshift is okay, but I rather replace brake pads then engine guts.

 

OK C'mon; the guy was asking about "sane" amounts of engine braking in the real world, not Keith Code thundering around a race track. Even racers use engine braking to some degree, and I'm sure by now we can all tell Abner that it's not going to damage his engine. It doesn't take the brains of a California Lawywer to understand that things are a bit different when you're riding the ragged edge. He was talking about the real world.

Now; How 'bout those Canucks eh?

 

I've never heard of an engine dieing and someone pinpointing that engine braking was the cause.

Whats the difference from twisting on the throttle, putting the engine under load and engine braking. The engine is under load either way.

 

real world and track, same difference. an unstable bike is a dangerous one

 

No where near the same and everyone knows that. If it's the same to you, either you don't win much or your nuts out on the street. My underlying point here is that the issue is being disected to death, the guy isn't a racer if he was he wouldn't be asking the question...moving on now.

 

please do. I fail to understand how a stable bike is a bad thing on the street

 

During engine deceleration engine / braking oil is sucked up the cylinder walls which serves to cool the piston and clean off the cylinder walls themselves. There is no harm done to a motor nor is additional heat generated in the ‘hot part’ of the motor as a result. Now if you over-rev because of a gear that is to low being selected that is another issue. JIM